For the heat-stressed worker who requires lost fluid replacement, their consumption may also lead to dehydration, unless adequate water is also consumed.

2015 research by a team at Griffith University, led by Dr Rebecca Loudoun, looked at the dietary intake of 186 construction workers and found that around 40 per cent consumed energy drinks, which Dr Loudoun said is often combined with poor diet, excessive alcohol consumption, smoking and obesity.

With serious safety implications and productivity issues associated with a poor diet, Dr Loudoun said that site or line managers must drive change. She added that on-site vending machine agreements and promotional site visits boosted the availability of energy drinks in the construction industry, which are being consumed at an “alarming rate”.

Dr Loudon stated that energy drinks are marketed specifically at blue collar men – often young, cashed up and chasing sustained energy throughout long days to meet tight deadlines – by promising increased performance.

However she said that “for many, particularly young workers, this was their meal,” and added that the drinks contain “high calories, low nutritional value and no essential vitamins and minerals”.

The research concludes it is essential that site and line managers drive change and lead by example because of their strong influence on worker diet.

Line managers “setting the pace of work; the setup of the site like the position and amount of eating areas, their proximity to noise and dust; and leadership behaviours… like bringing in their own lunch, chosen methods of rehydration, what they organise or allow to be served at the weekly onsite BBQs, all had an influence on workers’ choices,” Dr Loudoun said.

While the study’s participants saw the link between nutrition and safety on site, most workers thought there were more important and immediate safety concerns.